Crime Branch challenges Kamat anticipatory bail in HC

Panaji: The Bombay High Court’s Panaji bench on Thursday issued notice to former Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat, on a plea by the Crime Branch challenging his anticipatory bail in the Louis Berger bribery case.

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Justice K.L. Wadane, who heard the Crime Branch’s appeal against the anticipatory bail granted to Kamat by a special court on Wednesday, has now posted the matter for August 27.

Kamat, along with Churchill Alemao, also a former chief minister, and other government officials have been accused of allegedly accepting a $976,630 bribe in 2010 from officials of US-based Louis Berger consultancy firm to secure implementation rights of a multi-billion dollar water and sewerage project in Goa funded by the Japan International Co-Operation Agency (JICA).

He has been charged with sections relating to criminal conspiracy and causing disappearance of evidence of offence of the Indian Penal Code as well aections 7, 8, 9 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Crime Branch has maintained that Kamat was delivered the bribe amount in installments. He however has cried political victimization and that he had no role in allotting the consultancy project.

Alemao, along with three others, have already been arrested in connection with the case.

Digambar Kamat, former CM of Goa, was granted anticipatory bail in relation to the Louis Berger bribery case today. Kamat was also asked to pay Rs. 1 Lakh as surety.

The Congress leader has been interrogated five times in connection with the case. He was booked under Section 201 of IPC (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) and prior to it, he was booked under IPC Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and Sections 7, 8, 9 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with the case, which took place when he was the Chief Minister.

The Crime branch of the state is scrutinizing the Louis Berger case that pertains to the project of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) in which it was alleged that Minister(s) and some officials had taken bribe for granting consultancy contract for the project in 2010.

The court had earlier rejected the bail plea of Churchill Alemao, former PWD minister who was arrested in the case.

Churchill Alemao

The court has asked Kamat to not tamper with the evidence and cooperate with the Crime branch as and when required.